FAO Schwarz Fellowships in Social Impact at 826 Boston

ABOUT THE 826 BOSTON FELLOWSHIPS IN BOSTON

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is an intensive, transformative two-year experience in the world of social impact. Fellows work at leading nonprofit organizations in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. Each organization is deeply valued in their communities and has a strong record of delivering high-quality services that address critical issues of social inequity and producing consistent results. The Fellowship is a two-year commitment that pays $52,000 in year one (includes $2,000 start of Fellowship bonus) and $58,000 in year two (includes $3,000 end of Fellowship bonus). 

This year, 826 Boston will host two Fellows in unique roles in the Boston location: the Publishing Fellow and the Data Evaluation Fellow. Interested candidates may apply to one or both of these positions.

The Publishing FAO Schwarz Fellow

The FAO Schwarz Fellow (Publishing) will provide individualized writing support across 826 Boston’s programs and develop processes and tools to provide more students with access to 826 Boston’s publishing program and expand the program’s array of print and digital publications.

Direct Service:

The Fellow will provide individualized writing support across 826 Boston’s programs and develop processes and tools to provide more students with access to 826 Boston’s publishing program and expand the program’s array of print and digital publications.

The Fellow will provide individualized writing support across 826 Boston’s programs by:

• Working with K-12 students to brainstorm, draft, and revise their pieces for publication, ensuring students’ authentic voices are centered throughout the writing process. Projects focus on a range of genres and topics, such as personal narrative, creative short story, identity-based poetry, and more.
• Facilitating a program-based student editorial board, a paid student leadership opportunity, to drive the creative direction of book projects.
• Building on their publication management work by supporting (year one) and leading (year two) a program-based publishing project. The Fellow will assist with writing workshops, facilitating the student editorial board, spearheading the book making process, including an opportunity to showcase student work.

Strategic Project:

The FAO Schwarz Fellow will develop processes and tools to provide more students with access to 826 Boston’s publication program and to expand the array of 826 Boston’s print and digital publications. 

The Fellow will:

• Expand the reach of student voices across the city, creating more opportunities for students to authentically share their stories through in-person and digital platforms. The Fellow will explore multimedia opportunities for collaboration between 826 Boston and other community organizations. In the second year, the Fellow will focus on fostering new and existing relationships, while strengthening neighborhood connections.
• Collaborate with the Publishing Manager on the production of the Young Authors’ Book Project. The Fellow will engage key stakeholders—community partners, designers, copyeditors, photographers, and more—in developing an original and creative publication.
• Collaborate with the Publishing Manager to maintain a multimedia catalog of publishing resources, helping 826 Boston teams produce publications with deeper student engagement. Lead the development of additional resources, as to be determined by program need.

The Data Evaluation FAO Schwarz Fellow

The FAO Schwarz Fellow (Data & Evaluation) will provide individualized writing support across 826 Boston’s programs and enhance and expand the suite of program assessment tools utilized by 826 Boston to more meaningfully measure how students’ skills develop during their tenure in 826 Boston’s programs and and increase the organization’s ability to communicate its impact. 
 

Direct Service:

The 826 Boston Data and Evaluation FAO Schwarz Fellow will provide individualized writing and homework tutoring support via one-on-one and small group conferences across 826 Boston’s programs. The Fellow will support students in strengthening their writing, creative self-expression, and critical thinking skills. 
 

The Fellow will:

• Work with K-12 students to strengthen their academic writing assignments, ensuring students meet project requirements as outlined by their classroom teachers. Projects span all content areas, from humanities to STEM.
• Work with K-12 students to brainstorm, draft, and revise their writing for publication and personal creative projects, ensuring students’ authentic voices are centered throughout the writing process. Projects focus on a range of genres and topics, such as personal narrative, creative short story, identity-based poetry, and more.
• Develop (year one) and lead (year two) workshops focused on the competencies measured through the annual 826 National Writing Assessment to strengthen existing and add new tools to students’ writing toolkit.

Strategic Project:

The 826 Boston Data and Evaluation FAO Schwarz Fellow will enhance and expand the suite of program assessment tools utilized by 826 Boston to more meaningfully measure how students’ writing, creative-self expression, and leadership skills develop during their tenure in our programs; add to a culture of continuous growth and learning among program staff; and increase our ability to communicate our impact to external audiences. 

The Fellow will:

• Manage all program engagement data utilizing the cloud-based software Salesforce, ensuring accuracy and usability.
• Implement the annual 826 National Writing Assessment, a matched pre/post timed writing evaluation administered to over 500 students across all 826 Boston in-school and out-of-school programs.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Impact on executing years two and three of the multi-year, alumni-focused mixed-methods outcome study, which will evaluate the longer-term outcomes defined in 826 Boston’s Intended Impact and Theory of Change: that students gain the tools they need to pursue future education and employment opportunities of their choosing and serve as leaders within their communities.
• During year two, develop and lead training modules for new and tenured program staff to increase fidelity of data collection processes, use of program outcome measurement tools across sites, and understanding of how to utilize data to improve student outcomes.

TYPICAL WORK SCHEDULE

Both the Publishing and Data and Evaluation FAO Schwarz Fellows will work Monday through Friday, selecting from one of the following three eight-hour schedules:

• 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

FAO Schwarz Fellows will work at least two days in person from their designated office spaces, increasing to three or four days when necessary to complete tasks associated with their direct service and/or special projects.